“If that’s the case they seem to be doing a lot of work to keep the test from affecting most of its intended subjects,” Ryo said.

“But that’s part of it, don’t you see?” the soldier said earnestly. “The uncertainty adds to the effect. Besides, the rumors are only to test the military. If the information reached the public, the test would be ruined because its source would have to be disclosed to prevent panic among the general populace.”

“Sounds like the ’test’ might be a rumor planted to cover the real rumors.” Wuu sounded intrigued. “The web is complicated.”

“Whatever it is, truth or rumor, I want no part of it, as you seem to. If they’re trying to find out who’s brave or curious enough to come forth and challenge the rumors in person, they’ll have to find someone besides me.”

As he listened to the soldier drone on, for some reason Ryo found himself thinking of Fal. So very far away now, she was. His thoughts turned to his clanmates, always so supportive and proud of him. He thought of his life assignment. It wasn’t so dull compared to most. Sometimes it had been downright exciting, even when he had spent most of his time deliberating in an office chamber instead of working in the field.

Aren’t there enough challenges in life, he found himself wondering, without trying to ferret out the darker secrets of the universe, without trying to probe regions best left to those appointed to search them?

What am I doing here? came the sudden thought He looked around the study chamber, feeling the whole ancient weight of Hivehom, of endless Daret and its secretive and bustling military establishment What was he doing in that chamber, a simple colonial agricultural specialist, a glorified fungus tender who followed in the path of those who’d tended growths in damp tunnels before the coming of reason? Perhaps …

Unexpectedly, the soldier emphasized a whistle, a proper name: Sed-Clee. It meant nothing to Ryo, but the force the soldier had put into the whistle and the terror embodied in his movements when he’d said it were enough to shock Ryo from his momentary uncertainty.

Something was happening here on Hivehom. Something of vast and threatening import It drew him onward while at the same time that damnably persistent part of his brain which had tormented him since birth pushed him from behind. He plunged recklessly, hungrily onward. “What is Sed-Clee?”

“Nothing,” the soldier replied solemnly.

“Nothing?” Wuu said.

“Nothing. A great deal of nothing, I think.”

“Now you’re not only being contradictory, young fellow,” the impatient poet muttered, “you’re being absurd.”

“Not at all, sir,” was the respectful reply. “When researching, one occasionally comes across irrelevant but interesting information in the files; This information destined for Sed-Clee.’ That report returned from Sed-Clee.’ But never any details, any exposition. Don’t you see? Entirely too much nothing comes and goes from what is cataloged as a tiny military outpost. The volume is far larger than a post of such size should warrant, and the information is directed to and dispatched from some of the most esoteric burrows of the military. This one, for example.